A Mother

Whenever the media covers a high profile case of sexual assault there's a chorus saying the survivor should have gone to the police or their parents. The latest example: the sexual assault allegations in relation to last month's Labour Party youth camp. Writing anonymously, a survivor explains why such comments are so unhelpful.

Behind closed doors, and in public facing judgement and contempt, mothers and fathers are doing their best to support their children through anxiety and other mental health issues. Here is one mother's story.

While you are reading this a mother somewhere in the country is making the heartbreaking decision to terminate a wanted pregnancy. Continuing our series of real stories of abortion, one mother shares what it's like to have a termination for medical reasons.

A public referendum on legalising cannabis for personal use may be held by the 2020 election as part of a possible agreement between the Green and Labour parties. One mother shares her own story to explain why she's desperately hoping legalisation won't happen.

When this mother gave birth, her daughter was unable to breathe on her own – for 11 long, agonising minutes. These days she has a different attitude to the developmental milestones that many parents take for granted.

More than 13,000 abortions were performed in New Zealand last year, yet the reasons why women have one remain largely hidden. One reason for the secrecy: the stigma of abortion, exacerbated by its inclusion in the Crimes Act, a situation PM Bill English says he has no interest in rectifying. Here one anonymous mother explains why an abortion was the right choice for her.

This is what depression does. It feeds you lies.' In this anonymous post, a mother talks about how her journey through postnatal depression and out the other side – and implores us to talk about it to save other parents going through the same thing.

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